title: Cordyceps militaris induces the IL-18 expression via its promoter activation for IFN-gamma production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cordyceps militaris, one of traditional herbal ingredient in oriental medicine, has been known to promote anticancer and immunomodulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the biological mechanism of anticancer activity has been unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Cordyceps militaris extract on expression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) through interlukin-18 (IL-18) induction and its biological mechanism in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were administrated orally with solution extracted from Cordyceps militaris. The transcription level of IL-18 and IFN-gamma production were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RAW 264.7 cells were transiently transfected with pCATp1 and pCATp2 for IL-18 promoter functional analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cordyceps militaris extracts treatment significantly induced level of IL-18 transcription in mouse brain and liver and enhanced IL-18 transcription level and activated the IFN-gamma production in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, Cordyceps militaris extract led to increase the activity of pCATp1 construct containing the 5' franking region of IL-18 promoter in RAW 264.7 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cordyceps militaris extract induced IL-18 mRNA level via enhancing of P1 promoter region result in activation of IFN-gamma production, indicating its potential as an immune activator or anticancer drug.
authors.affiliation: Oral Biology Research Institute and The second stage of BK21, Chosun University College of Dentistry, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yeong-Mu
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Byung-Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heung-Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo-Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Kie
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Byung-Ock
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hong Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Do Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects*; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D007371:Interferon-gamma